Absurd trade idea with GSW, LAC, and ATL

[saltlover]

I've seen a lot of Pierce to Golden State ideas, some resurrections of KG to the Clippers, and some trade with ATL for either Josh Smith or Al Horford.  I decided to have some fun and try to combine them all as reasonably as possible into one series of absurd (but possible, salary-wise) trades.  What do you think:

Three-way trade with Clippers and Warriors (before June 30):

Clippers get:
Kevin Garnett

Warriors get:
Paul Pierce
DeAndre Jordan
Jason Terry
Terrence Williams
Shavlik Randolph
DJ White

Celtics get:
Eric Bledsoe
Harrison Barnes
Festus Ezeli
Andrew Bogut
Richard Jefferson
Andris Biedrins

Why it works*: The Clippers seemed close to doing this trade during the regular season, and with a first-round exit, may be inclined to reconsider.  The Warriors add a young center to add to their core, and can move David Lee to the 4.  Pierce and Terry supply them with some leadership and bench scoring.  They also save $6.5 million in 2013-2014 salaries after they waive the China 3, which is important for them since they'd probably like to bring back Jarrett Jack, and may need to replace Carl Landry if he doesn't pick up his player option, but are likely very near the apron for next year (without this trade they're currently committed to over $75 million next season.)  The Celtics get three young pieces to build around, and $34 million in expiring contracts.

Trade #2 - S&T with Atlanta for Josh Smith + Al Horford (July 2013)

Atlanta gets:
Eric Bledsoe
Harrison Barnes
Festus Ezeli
Andrew Bogut
Richard Jefferson
Andris Biedrins

Celtics get:
Josh Smith (for $15.84 million in year 1)
Al Horford
DeShawn Stevenson
Shelvin Mack

Note: This trade is actually carried out in three separate trades: Smith for Jefferson and Biedrins, Horford for Bogut and Barnes, and Stevenson and Mack for Bledsoe and Ezeli.  Otherwise the salaries don't work.

Why it works*:  After the Hawks miss out on Howard and Paul, which is a near-guarantee, the Hawks get three young players to build a nucleus around, and $34 million in expiring deals to help them meet minimum salary requirements, and not bog them down in the summer of 2014 when they get to play max-salary lotto again.  They also stink for a year and move up in the all-important 2014 draft.  The Celtics get Josh Smith and Al Horford, while keeping their current young nucleus of Rondo, Green, Bradley, and Sully.  They also have the non-guaranteed salaries of Stevenson and Mack to use as filler in any other deal they want to make that off-season, or just release outright.  Not including their 2013 draft pick, the Celtics would have about $67.8 million committed to 10 players for 2013-2014, leaving them with room to add someone with the big MLE (and might now be seen as a viable free agent destination for ring-chasers with 4 potential all-stars in Rondo, Smith, Horford, and Green.)

EDIT: I forgot to mention that due to "base-year compensation" rules, if Smith makes more than $15.84 mil in year 1, his salary for this trade is actually treated as $13.2 mil (this year's salary), since he'll have received a raise of over 20% as part of a sign-and-trade.  This will mean that we aren't taking back enough in salary for the full salary dump to work. If his salary is less than $15.046 million, we will also not take back enough in salary.  So if you choose to discuss this trade, know that as presently constructed, Smith would need to be paid between $15.046 and $15.84 million in year 1.  (You could probably pay him less by adding in another non-guaranteed contract from Atlanta (presumably Mike Scott), but you cannot pay him more.)

Have fun with this one, CB-forum users!

*We're using a loose definition of "works" here, in which we only consider the positives for each team, and not the negatives.

[pearljammer10]

Haha. You're right that is absurd. Oye.

[slamtheking]

TP for the effort.  fun to read anyway despite the complete lack of reality

[saltlover]

Double post.  Stupid computer.

[saltlover]

With now Doc and Pierce being mentioned as joining KG in the Clippers, I'm bumping this absurd idea, with the following change:

Pierce goes to Golden State, who releases him.  He then signs with LA.  Doc also joins the Clippers, and the Celtics get a pick or two that can be used to sweeten the pot with Atlanta.

Golden State seems to be the one people are least likely to understand the rationale for.  To me, it makes sense.  They are likely to lose at least one key free agent this offseason, in Jarret Jack, and will be unable to replace him in free agency, due to payroll concerns.  This trade allows them to replace a lot of players who don't add much (since Bogut is not at all healthy) with DeAndre Jordan.  JET is probably useful in that offense taking on Curry's role in the offense when Curry is out.  They would drop $17 million in payroll after waiving Pierce, and could afford to add a free agent.  Also, if DH12 is serious about looking at Golden State, Jordan + their non-guaranteeds match the salaries needed for Howard to get a max deal in a sign-and-trade, and releasing Pierce puts them far enough under the apron to pull that off.  The cost is Harrison Barnes and Ezeli, but Jordan, JET, Jack, and another free agent isn't a bad trade-off, and if it nets them Howard, I think they'd make that trade every day.

Obviously this is a long shot, and all trades are more likely to not occur than happen, but I think you can make an argument for each time why it makes some sense.

[Moranis]

Taking for a second that all teams would do that, which wouldn't happen, the second trade is impossible under the rules.  Boston cannot trade players it acquired in trades involving other players for 90 days (at least I think it is 90 days, it might be longer).